[Industrialblog,
December 12, 2006]
Yep
This is brilliant, not just because of the dangers it warns against, but also about how things work across time in our society. He's got his Societal BS detector finely tuned.
The only thing missing is the role of terrorism: I believe that a massively successful terrorist attack (200k+ deaths) will mean either an end to freedom as we know it, or massive implantation in micro-chips in order to travel anywhere or do anything.
And after that, the nanny state won't ever leave us alone. There will always be a reason to pester us. Because once they can track us; they can create what in computer terms are called permissions. Some will have administrative access and be called SuperUsers. Others may have limited access to the world -- you can go home, to the Mall, and if you stray outside your zone, you need permission from the state. And they can make permissions conditional, and those conditions could be set by lobbyists.
You didn't go to the dentist in the past six months? Well, the government paid $X billion for dental work caused by negligent people not going to the dentist on time. Thus, you have two weeks to go to the dentist or your permissions are suspended. The dentist receptionist will restore your permissions.
And oh yeah -- since your movements can be tracked, you can be taxed according to your use of public services. Drove 50k miles last year? You'll be taxed per mile.
Didn't bring your car in for its required maintenance? Didn't you know that 10,000 man hours are lost each time a car breaks down during rush hour? You're not allowed on the turnpike until you're inspections and maintenance is up to date.
The fact that this tagging stuff is in the Book of Revelation doesn't seem to matter to people, either.
The only thing missing is the role of terrorism: I believe that a massively successful terrorist attack (200k+ deaths) will mean either an end to freedom as we know it, or massive implantation in micro-chips in order to travel anywhere or do anything.
And after that, the nanny state won't ever leave us alone. There will always be a reason to pester us. Because once they can track us; they can create what in computer terms are called permissions. Some will have administrative access and be called SuperUsers. Others may have limited access to the world -- you can go home, to the Mall, and if you stray outside your zone, you need permission from the state. And they can make permissions conditional, and those conditions could be set by lobbyists.
You didn't go to the dentist in the past six months? Well, the government paid $X billion for dental work caused by negligent people not going to the dentist on time. Thus, you have two weeks to go to the dentist or your permissions are suspended. The dentist receptionist will restore your permissions.
And oh yeah -- since your movements can be tracked, you can be taxed according to your use of public services. Drove 50k miles last year? You'll be taxed per mile.
Didn't bring your car in for its required maintenance? Didn't you know that 10,000 man hours are lost each time a car breaks down during rush hour? You're not allowed on the turnpike until you're inspections and maintenance is up to date.
The fact that this tagging stuff is in the Book of Revelation doesn't seem to matter to people, either.
Reading through that piece, I'm afraid I find it all too plausible a portrait of one way things could go down in our society, over the course of a generation or so.
Perhaps many would, but there's such a thing as survival of the fittest. :)
And, in truth, populations can become inflamed fairly quickly. That can work for better or for worse, but even effete people can grow a spine if pressed.
And it's not like the American revolution against the Brittish was carried out by a majority of Americans.